with all the talk of exhaust flange cracks got me thinking. the MM has a slip fit, but the Q and stock SS doesn't. Why don't they crack as compared to the other aftermarket ones? Is it bracing? Material thickness? Thinking of making a free flowing exhaust (have seen a few on here). I have a piece of 4" sch 10 SS pipe bout 20" long, was gonna order pre mandrel bent 1.5" tubing .065" thick. Cut my flanges out of .25" plate with plasma cutter and weld it up, bracing it to everything. Of course the search tool only goes back so far, so can't look up much. Thoughts.

If you use carbon steel flanges prob won't crack. If you use stainless you better get a slip flange. I have made about 15 mufflers and the slip flange is the way to go. If you don't use it the flange will crack every time. I get my pipes bent and flared from burns stainless. You can look them up on the web. Any more questions just let me know.

Swwet ass flag in avatar....but what is a slip flange, like the MM where one is flared so that the other slides into it? Any pics of your setup? because I had the pipe and only needed the mandrel bends, I was gonna try and make it look similar to stock or the Q but free flowing. Just hated to spend money on something I can tig up and brace in no time.

Yes to your first question ^^

Then Ill do that and still brace it good. The slip fit should allow for thermal expansion.